Flying-machine



F. A. BERG.

FLYING wmcHlNE.

. .APPLICATION FILED DEC. I8, 1918.

yml 14. Patentd Fol). 1, 1921.

YSHEETSr-SHEET i.

rIT. A. BERG.

FLYING MMI-HNE.

APPLCATION FILED DEC.1B.I9I8. E www @u l Pagfisnm Feb.. L 1921K F, A. BERG.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I8, 1918.

1,36*?,1 14, I Pmn im). 1,1921,

. YSHEETS-SHEET 3. jf?? .if

F. A. BERG.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. i8, |918.

l.153@'751 1.11, l Patented Feb. 1, 1921.-

T SHEETS-SHEET 1I'.

@ALAN/-AWWA Tf, y 1m "myn w;

(MIA

f F. A. BERCL` FLvlN'G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0111;.111, 1918.

1,367,114, Y Patented F611.. l, 1921.

g5 sHEETs-SHEET y5. 1

F. A. BERG.

FLYING IViACHENE. APPLxcATloN FILED Da'c. 1s ,1918.

Patnted Feb. 1, 1921.

F. A..BERG.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Die. I8. 1918.

1,367,1 14, Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

. IsHEETs-SIIEEI I.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK AUGUST BERG, OF CHICAGD, ILLINOIS.

lIFLYIIN(5'r-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ret. 1, l1921.

Application lcd December` 18, 1918. Serial No. 267,285'.

To ZZ whom 'it 'may concer/L Be it known that I, Fnnnnmoi; A. BERG,

a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook,

and State of Illinois, have invented cer-I tain new and useful Improvementsin Fly ingeMachines, ot' which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to .improvements in flying machines and has for its object the production of a flying machine which will be equipped with means for insuring safety ot the aviator in case of accident to or disability of the llying'maehine.

.A further object is the production-of a safety mechanism for flyingmachines which will be of durable and economicalconstruction and highly ellicient in use.

Other objects will appearI hereinafter.`

The invention consists in the combinaf tions and arrangements oi" parts hereinafter described and claimed.

lThe invention will be best understood by reference tothe accompanly'iing drawings forming a part of'this specification, and in which- Figure l, is atop plan view of a flying Amachine embodying` the invention,

Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof, with parts shown in section, i

Fig.' 3, an enlarged detail section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

` Fig. 4t, an enlarged detail section, illus trating the releasable connection between. theouter ends ot the parachutes and the body of the flying machine,

Fig. 5, an enlarged ragmental section of one of the para-chute or sustaining members, Figs. 6 andT, sections. taken on lines 6-6 and 7 7, respectively, of Fig. 5, i Figs. 8 and 9, enlarged sections taken on lines 8 -8 and 9 9 of Fig. '5,

Fig. l0, ay top plan View of the central portion of one of the parachutes or sustaining members,

Fig. 11, a central section of one ot the "parachutes or sustaining members in distended or unfolded form.

Fig. 12, an .enlarged detail section taken on line l2-12 ot Fig,\2,.

Fig. 13, anenlarged section taken on line 13e-d3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. lil, a( central section illustrating the clutch engagei'nent for connecting the parachute distending or unfolding mechanism, With the flying machine motor,

Fig. 15, an enlarged detail sectional view of the band used to hold each parachute in folded condition, I

Fig. 1G, a section taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 15,

Fig. 17, a section taken on line l7-l7 of Fig. l5, and

Fig. 18, a perspective view olf' one of the end pieces carried by the/band shown in Figs. l5 and 16.

l The preferred form ot constructit'm. as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a l'lying machine or aeroplane. 20, ot' any'ordinary or preferred design, the same being equipped with the usual .power shaft 2l leading from the motor of the machine and to which is applied the propeller 22 thereof.

lhe drivei" s or aviators seat is shown at 23. Provided at the upper side ofthe flying machine is/a pair of.laterallyspaced para chutes or sustainilijg members 24, each oli which comprises a central rigid stall 25 secured at itsinner end to a yoke 2G having bearings 2T at its ends which are rotatably mounted `in a supporting device 28, (see Fig. 5) which is rigidly secured to the plane oi' the l'lying machine or any other adjacent rigidstructure which may be utilized for this Juraose. The arraneelnent is such as will be seen, that the parachutes 2l are permanently fastened to the flying machine, but

in such a manner as to permit of swiiiging in a vertical plane, extending longitudinally of the machine and about a transverse axis.

Each parachute consists ot' a plurality of spaced snperposed parachute or sustaining elements 29, 30 and 3l which are of graduated size, the largest being at' the top and the.

smallest at the bottom, las clearly seen in Fig. 1l. l plurality of spaced radial ribs 32, over which is spread a suitable covering 33, said ribs being pivotally connected with a collar 34: Which is anchored to the stall 25 ot the parachute. Coperating with the ribs 32 are bra-ce rods 35, the lower orinner ends of which are pivotally connected with a collar 3G slidably mounted upon rod 25, as clearly seen in Fig. 5. Upward movement of the collar 36 on stalf25 is limited by a stop collar 37.

Similarly, the sustaining element 30 com prises a. plurality oit spaced radial ribs 38 to which isv fastened a suitable covering 39, theinner ends of ribs 38 being pivotally connected with a collar 40 which is rigidly The element 29 is formed of a`l los fastened upon a sleeve 43 slidably mounted upon staff 25.

The sustaining element 31 similarly comprises spaced radial ribs 44, to which is 5 fastened a covering 45, the inner ends of said ribs being p'ivotally connected with a collar46 which is rigidly secured to staff 25. Coperating with ribs 44 are brace rods 47, the inner ends of which pivotally connect .with a collar 48 which is fixed to the slidably mounted sleeve 43.

Folding and unfolding of the parachute elements 29, 30 and 31 is effected by means of a pair of screws 49,the lower ends of which arerotatably mounted in the yoke 26.I as seen in Fig. v5. The upper ends of said screws are threaded in a collar 50 which is lslidably mounted upon staff the upper ends of said screws passing looselythrough 2o a collar 49 which is fixed to the lower end of sleeve 43. The upper ends of screws 49 are headed so as to adapt said screws to limit upward movement of collar 49. The collar 5t) is rigidly connected byv means of 25,bo1ts 51 with the lower end of a sleeve 52 slidably mounted upon sleeve. 43, the bolts 51 passing loosely through collar 49. The upper end of sleeve 52 is connected by bolts 53 with the lower end of a sleeve 54, which is alsolslidably mounted upon sleeve 43. The bolts 53 pass loosely through the collar 48. The upper end of`sleeve'54 is rigidly connected by means of rods 55 with a sleeve 56, which is slidablymounted upon staff 25. said rods passing loosely through collars 42 and 46. The upper endsof rods 55 pass also loosely through the collar 46 and are provvided with heads at their upper ends, for engagement with the upper side of said collar 36.

The arrangement is such that an operative connection between the screws 49 and the various sets of brace rods coperating with the various parachute or sustaining elements is established, so that upon rotation of said screws in a direction to effect upward movement of the collar 50, said parachute or sustaining elements will be caused to unfold or distend, whereas, upon reverse rotation `of 50 said screws, causing downward movement of the collar 50, said parachute or sustaining elements will be .folded together. lin the unfolding or distension ofthe parachute or sustaining elements, the collar 50, 1n moving upwardly, engages with and causes upward movement ofthe collar 49. `thereby effecting the desired upward movement of the sleeve 43, sleeve 52 beingof course moved upwardly through the connection of the lower end thereof with collar 5t) by. means of bolts 51. This operation is much the same 'as that described and claimed in my co-pending application for parachutes.l SerialNo. 218.050, filed February 19, 1918. no claim for this detail of the construction being made in this application, the. same having been covered in the co-pendingl application referred to.

In the present constructicm, however, the upper ends of members 52, 54 and 56 are of 70 inclined conical formation for engagement with the lower or inner ends of brace rods 47, 41 and 35, respectively, in order to effect an initial outward tilting of said brace rods prior to the upward movement of the lower ends of said b 'ace rods, which completes the distending or unfolding operation of the parachute elements.

The outer ends of the ribs of the. parachute elements are connected by extensible so or foldable rods 57 with the collar 49. the upper. end of collar 5t) lueing inclined or conically formed for engagement with the inner terminals of said rods for the same reason as above set forth in connection with ss the parts 52. 54 and 56. The lower or inner terminals of said rods 57 and the various brace rods are provided with rollers, as seen,

to alleviate friction. The rotary movement of the screws 49 above referred to in eil'ectim ing folding` or unfolding of the parachute.

is effected by means of gears 53 secured to the lower ends of said screws 49, said gears meshing with a double crown gear 59, carried by a shaft 60, having bearings in the 9.5 parts 27, as clearly seen in Fig. 5.

The. inner ends of shafts ttl copeinting with the two parachutes are operatively connected with shafts 6l, universal joints 62 being employed at the points of connection. as seen in Fig. 12. The inner ends of shafts 61 carry bevel gears o3 which mesh with a bevel gear 64 provided upon a tubular shaft 65 mounted in the body of the iying machine` as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 14. |Theforward end of the .sha ft 65 carries a friction wheel 66 adapted for engagement with a friction wheel 67, which is splined to the shaft 21 of the flying machine. Spaced from the wheel 66 for engagemext; with the opposite side of the. friction wluel 67 is a wheel 68, carried by a shaft 69 which is loosely mounted in the tubular sha ft 65. the rearward end of shaft 67 terminating in a knob 70 arranged in operative proximity 115 with the drivers or aviators seat 23. The arrangement is such that by pulling upon the knob 70, the aviator may pull the wheel 68 into engagement with wheel 67. and the latter in turn into engagement with the wheel 66,. a friction clutch being thus formed, establishing operative connection between the power shaft of the. flying machine and the p arachutes 24 for effecting unfolding thereof. i

In order to permit of manual operation of the parachutcs. a handle 71 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 6Fl. carrying a clutch member 72 adapted for engagement. with a clutch member 73 provided upon shaft 65. lim

as at 92, for engagement with the rollers Si) i A. threaded collar 74 is also provided upon clutch part 72, which is adapted to be rotated so as to engage with both of the clutch parts 72 and 73, thereby holding the clutch teeth ot said parts vin mesh' to permit of rotation in either direction` to fold or unfold the parachutes.

'lhe outer ends of the parachute stalls 25 are rigidly connected by a pipe'. Afrom which depends a 'medially positioned pipc section TG, as clearly seen in Figs. :2, -i and il. The lower end o'f the pipe To is pro` vided with a slotted lug 77, adapted to engage in a socket 78 provided in member T1) secured to the rearward end of the body of the aeroplane. Slidably mounted in the member T9 is a spring-pressed bolt no. adapted rto releasably engage with the lng 77 in order to lock the parachutes in lowered, horizontal on inoperative position'. The bolt. 8() is'rctrinfted through the medium of a cord 8l,v which extends l'orwardly and is connected with a lever H2 arranged in operative proximity with the aviators seat 23, as clearly seen in lfig. 2. vfith this arrangement, it will be seen that release of the parachutes to permit .of upward swinging thereof to operative position is effected by simply tiltingthe lever H2 in order to retract bolt St).

Cooperating with each of the parachutes l 2l for holding the same in folded or collapsed condition` is a band H3 adapted to snugly embrace the same. as clearly seen in Figs. l and 2. Each band S3 carries at its ends end pieces Se. as clearly seen in Figs. l5, 16, 17 and 1H. The end pieces Si; are adapted to register with cach other. one of said pieces carrying a dowel pin H5 adapted to engage with a socket. S6. whereby said end pieces are held in alinement. cord 87 connects with one of the end pieces 8J; for fastening the same to one of the ribs of Athe adjacent. parachute or sustainingl ele ment 29.

Coperating with the end pieces Si ol each band 83 is a yoke .88 provided at its inner side, at opposite ends thereof, with rollers 89 and 90, which rollers are adapted to engage-with laterally projecting [langes 91 provided upon the end pieces Se. The arrangement is such that when said rollers 89 and 90 are engaged with'the flanges 91 of the end pieces 8l, the ends of the band will be securely 4connected and thus the parachute held in folded or collapsed condition. Upon withdrawal or detachment or" the yoke 8S, the end nieces 8% are disconnected, and thus the band released to pei mit of. unfolding of the parachute. `To pre- 'vent accidental removal ot' the yoke 38,

flanges 91 of the end pieces Si Aare recessed,

and 90, as will be readily understood.

This removal of the yokcs 88 1n order to release the bands 83 of the parachutes is etfected by means of cords 913 which project rearwardly through the pipes T5 and thence downwardlythrough the pipe To, said cords being then brought forwardly and con` necttal'with a manually operable drum 94. which is arranged in operative proximity with the aviators seat 2R.

lVith the construction set forth then, it will be seen that in the event of emergency, the aviator needs only to operate drum SH to release the parachntes Afor unfolding. Then the lever H2 is actuated to effect release of the paracl'iutes for upward swinging thereof. This havingl been done. the aviator. by simply pulling on the knob T0.

may eilect operative connection between the motor of the aeroplane and the parachntes to effect unfolding of the latter. In case the motor is not running, such unfolding may be etl'ected by means of the handle Tl. asabove described. i

With an aeroplane equipped with mecha` nism as described. in the event of emergency. the parachutes being brought into play, will serve to break the fall of the aeroplane, iusuring an easy or retarded descent. therebyl preventing injury to the aviator and also the machine.'

While l have illustrated and described the preferred form ot (.'onstruetion for carrying my invention into effect. this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spil-'it off the invention. el. therefore, do not wish tobe limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desireto avail myself of such variations and nimlifications as` come within the scope o'f th'e appended claims.

llaving described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to .secure by Letters Patent is z- Y ljThe combination with a motor-driven flying machine, of a fioliliine,` parachute swingingly connected therewith `for emergency use; and common means for utilizing the motor olf said machine or hand power to unfold said parachute, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a motor-driven `flyingmachine, of a folding parachute swingingly connected therewith for emer? geney use; rotary means for effecting un folding of said parachute; and means for utilizing the motor ots-aid machine or hand power toV actuate said rotary means, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a motor-driven flying machine, ot' a' folding' parachute swingingly connected therewith for emergency use; means 'for unfolding said p`arachute, coniprising a screw; and means for utilizing the motor ot said machine, or hand power, to rotate said screw, snbstan tially asdescribed.

said machine with said screw7 substantiallyA as described.

5. The combination with a motor-drlven flying machine, of a folding parachute swingingly connected therewith for emer gency use; means for unfolding said parachute, comprising a plurality of shiftably mounted elements operatively connectedtogether; rotary' means for actuating said shiftably mounted elements; and means for utilizing the motor of said machine, or hand power, to rotate said rotary means, substantially as described.

6. T he combination with a. flying machine, of a folding parachute.swingingly connected therewith for emergency use, said parachute comprising a plurality of superposed sustaining elements; a plurality of shiftably mounted members for folding and unfolding said sustaining elements; and means for utilizing the motor of said machine for shifting said members, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a flying machine, of a folding parachute swingingly connected therewith for emergency use, said parachute comprising a plurality of superposed sustaining elements; a plurality of shiftably mounted members for folding and unfolding said sustaining elements; and means for utilizing the motor of said machine for shifting said members, said means comprising a manually controlled friction clutch operable from the aviators seat of said machine, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a iying machine, of a folding parachute swingingly mounted thereon; means for holding said parachute in folded condition, comprising a bandA adapted to embrace said parachute; T shaped stops on the ends of said band; and a yoke haring T shaped slots adapted to rcleasably engage with said stops to releasably connect the ends of said band, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a tiying machine, of a folding parachute swingingly mounted thereon; means for holding said parachute in folded condition, comprising a band adapted to embrace said parachute; stops provided at the ends of said band; a yoke adapted to releasably engage with said stops to releasably connect the ends of said band; and rollers mounted in said yoke, there being recesses in said stops for engagement by said rollers, substantially as described.

l0. The combination with a llying machine, of a folding parachute swingiugly connected therewith for. emergency use, said parachute comprising a plurality of super posed foldable sustaining elements; inwardly projecting radial brace rods coperating with each of said sustaining elements; a plurality of shiftably mounted members engageable with the inner ends of said brace rods for effecting unfolding of said sustaining elements, said shiftable members having inclined surfaces adapted to engage with the inner extremities of said brace rod's to effect an initial outward swinging thereof in the unfolding operation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK AUGUST BERG. Witnesses Rosie KosKA, HELEN F. Linus. 

